Transporter Bridge, Town Hall and Albert Road, Acklam Hall, Cenotaph and Albert Park

In 1947, Maurice Brunton arrived in Middlesbrough and captured some of the hustle and bustle of the town and River Tees with his 8mm camera. Accompanied by members of the Avenue Methodist Scouts, views from the top of the world-famous Transporter Bridge show ships on the river, and the bridge’s gondola packed with locals on their way to work. The film also records boys coming and going from what was then Acklam Hall Secondary School.

Acklam Hall, Middlesbrough's only Grade 1 listed building, was built between 1680 and 1683 by William Hustler in the fashionable ‘Dutch’ style. It remained in the Hustler family for more than 200 years, becoming a place of education in September 1935 as a Grammar School for boys. Like the house before it, the school expanded over the years eventually becoming part of Middlesbrough College before closing in 2008. Following extensive renovations, it reopened in 2016 as a wedding venue, spa and conference centre. Maurice Brunton’s history with the Scouting movement goes back before his time in Middlesbrough, and continues to this day. In 2016 he was awarded an OBE for ‘voluntary service through Scouting’.